z

Young Writers Society


Using Research for Procrastination



User avatar
3821 Reviews

Supporter


Gender: Female
Points: 3891
Reviews: 3821
Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:58 am
View Likes
Snoink says...



Too often, as story writers, we don't write. Instead, we procrastinate using in some very creative ways. "Before we can write," we tell ourselves, "we have to come up with a good solid outline, we have to have good strong characters, and it has to be perfect."

So we do character biographies. We outline the story, constructing every single piece of conflict, no matter how miniscule it is, and make sure every reaction of each character is perfect. We obsess over it completely and utterly for days on end.

...and then we write the first paragraph, hate it, and throw it out.

Sound familiar?

I know I was just the same! I wanted to be the best writer in the world, and if the first paragraph wasn't perfect, then I would either just throw the idea away or I would revise the first paragraph over and over and over...

Haha.

Since I am a stubborn little #%^&, I decided to do the latter. That is, I wouldn't continue writing FREAK until it was perfect. Coincidentally, I didn't write that much at all, and then I would lament my sucky writing. Finally, several people bashed me on the head with blunt objects (figuratively!) and I finally started writing again. But wow... that took a while!

No. Don't do this, I beg you.

Instead, take Patton's words of advice:

"A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow."

Have fun!
Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.

"The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly." ~ Richard Bach

Moth and Myth <- My comic! :D
  





User avatar
816 Reviews



Gender: None specified
Points: 8413
Reviews: 816
Sun Sep 02, 2007 5:01 am
Leja says...



aww, Snoink, why do you have to expose everyone's flaw? :wink:
  





User avatar
13 Reviews



Gender: Female
Points: 1890
Reviews: 13
Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:10 pm
starlight88 says...



Wise advice. :smt031
  





Random avatar


Gender: Male
Points: 690
Reviews: 1
Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:50 am
View Likes
Zlarp says...



Agreed. If it turns out that what you wrote sucks, you can at least use it as a very elaborate outline. The most ideas always come during the writing itself.
  





User avatar
270 Reviews



Gender: Female
Points: 5081
Reviews: 270
Mon Dec 26, 2011 5:17 am
fireheartedkaratepup says...



I love you so much.
"Ok, Lolpup. You can be a girl worth fighting for."
--Pengu
  





User avatar
249 Reviews



Gender: Male
Points: 9525
Reviews: 249
Wed Jan 18, 2012 11:51 pm
View Likes
murtuza says...



Image
It's not about the weight of what's spoken.
It's about being heard.
  





User avatar
5 Reviews



Gender: Female
Points: 1308
Reviews: 5
Thu Jan 19, 2012 6:49 am
xXmusicaXx says...



Thanks for that Snoik!
I just saw this and it looked interesting...
Now I'll go write!! (or study...) XD
"Married to music - 'nuff said."
"Freedom is everything to me."

"Have you any idea why a raven is like a writing desk?"
"I shall futterwacken vigorously"
~ Tarrant Hightop, Alice in Wonderland.
  








I was born to speak all mirth and no matter.
— William Shakespeare